The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1887-12-30
A ProspectOr in South America.


er of considerable experience. lie had
heard n great many reports Of the min
ing wealth Of Peru and Bolivia. and
concluded 10 make = prospecting tour
Of the country. His objective point was
the country beyond the Andes. He
landed In Gallo about n year ago. lie
went from there Mollendo Arequipa.
and Lake Titicaca, the highest navl-
gable body OF water In the world. The
lake lies party In Peru and partly. In
Bolivia, and is the medium Of much of
the commerce OF that part of the coun-
try. The country bordering the lake is
is not adapted TO agriculture. and the
wandering people who are found there
maintain precarious existence simpli-
fled by few wants. Continuing his
journey to La Paz In Rolivia, the doc
tor returned by the WAY Of Cuzco, from
whence be began his trip up the ANA
zon. From this point the journey was
made on foot. The assent was impas-
sible for four footed animals. He found
several tribes of Indians, but no whites,
after leaving Cuzco. The Indians were
peaceful and hospitable, and he deriy.
cd much assistance from their friendly
aid. Going up the San Juan del Orc
and Rio del Marde de Dios, he began
his search in earnest for placers. The
canyons were narrow and deep, and
very little gravel was found in them.
The impression that gold existsl IN these
gulches in large quantities he thinks is
is a delusion. In places, even II 1t did
exist, the conditions which surrounded
it would render mining abortiye. The
canyons are deep and precipitous, and
often not over ten feet wide. He en-
tered several where the sides were al
most perpendicular, and were at least
200 feet high. II was difficult to get
into these narrow boundanss. and al
most impossible TO get out.
In northern Peru the doctor visited
the dead city Of Chlrn. II is supposed
to have been built and inhabited by
race of people contemporary with the
Incas, and who were conquered by the
latter hundreds Of years before the ad
vent OF Pizarro. The city was hand
somely laid out and gave evidence of
civilization of even a higher order
than prevails at the present time In
northern Peru.
There are some of the old mines Of
Peru which can in time be worked with
profit. But this can only be done when
transportation facilities will enablel
the conveyance Of coal at much
cheaper rate than is now obtainable
Indeed under present conditions
1t cannot be got at all. Vast guam
titles of machinery have been taken to
Peru with the purpose of working
these mines, but the machinery is now
lying idle-has never, in fact, been put
in place and all on account of the alb
sence OF coal.
Further TO the south, however, coal
is abundant, and can be got at with
scarcely any trouble at all. 1t crops
out of the hillsides IN thick strata,
sometimes in thirty foot veins. Wheth-
er eaterprise and sSill will ever be able,
by means of railroads, to bring these
mines together, is a question which
must be left 10 the future to solve. The
doctor is by no means sanguine on the
subject.
The government is exceedingly lib
eral to foreigners who come with cap.
tial and energy to develope the country
II stands ready at all times to make
large grants of land and privileges to
any one who desires to engage In the
mining industry. There is very little
skilled mining labor in Peru. aud cap
italists have not evinced any dispo'
sition TO invest their money In the
country. This in measure Is presum'
ably attributable to the unsettled con
| ditiou of the country during and In
mediately subsequent to the war. Now
however, the country is peaceful. ant
some brillint opportunities are open u
adventurous Americans who feel in
clined to cast In their lot with the Pc
ruvians. There is no prejudice there
against Americans. Indeed, they arr
welcomed with open arms. and will b'
|, given extraordinary advantages in th'
way of mining.
The climate Is warm and pleasan
and resembles in many respects tha
which preyasls in san Francisco an
Y the cnast ciiiea of Cahfornia.--Fror